Roger (played by Jack Travis) and Mimi (played by Federica Andino-Vega) find love as they struggle with life’s challenges.
Submitted photo — Colonial School District

WHITEMARSH >> Plymouth Whitemarsh High School’s Colonial Players will present its spring musical, “Rent,” an inspiring musical about friends and artists struggling with addiction, poverty, AIDS and — most of all — love.

Set in the East Village of New York City, “Rent” is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today.

Written by Jonathan Larson, “Rent” was the winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1996 and is based loosely on Puccini’s “La Boheme.”

Rent follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians and centers around two best friends and roommates, Roger (played by Jack Travis) and Mark (played by Cole Walther). The lives of Roger, Mimi, Angel and Collins intersect as they struggle to survive in the shadow of HIV/AIDS. While Roger has accepted his destiny with this disease, he struggles to compose “One Song Glory” to leave as his legacy. Mimi (played by Federica Andino-Vega), a local dancer, bursts into his apartment, life and heart as she begs him to “Light My Candle.” Collins (played by Colin Mash) finds comfort in the arms of a bubbly street performer named Angel (played by Robert Gervasi). Their love blossoms as they sing “I’ll Cover You.” Maureen (played by Lauren Quigley), an eccentric actress and Mark’s ex-girlfriend, is at constant odds with her current girlfriend Joanne (played by Kamiah Gray), which comes to a head in “Take Me or Leave Me.” Rent triumphs over ignorance and hate, proving that love and compassion win and there is “No Day But Today.”

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This school edition adaptation has been carefully done, working with the Larson estate to retain the dramatic intent of the groundbreaking rock musical, and consists of minimal changes to language and the removal of one song (“Contact”) to make it possible for many schools to perform this piece. Music Theatre International rates the show as PG-13. Similar to the Broadway original, the production still deals with sexuality, drug use and AIDS, while telling the greater tale of community, love and acceptance. The show is edgy, and deciding whether or not to bring children under 12 is a parental choice.

The Colonial Players will stage “Rent” March 16 to 18 at 7:30 p.m. and March 18 at 1 p.m. in the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School auditorium, 201 E. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting.

Tickets range from $10 to $15 and can be purchased in advance at colonial-players.ticketleap.com/rent. Tickets will be sold in the main office prior to the performances starting at 6:30 p.m. for evening shows and noon for the Saturday matinee. All seating is assigned.